Fire-escape.



No. 669,656. Patented Mar. l2, I901. G. OSLUND.

FIRE ESCAPE.

(Application filed Jan. 2, 1901.)

(No Modl.) 2 Sheets8haet l.

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G. USLUNU.

FIRE ESCAPE.

(Application filed Jan. 2, 1901.)

(No Model.) 2 Sheets-Sheet 2,

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Nrrno TATES GOTTFRID OSLUND, OF WORCESTER, MASSACHUSETTS.

FIRE-ESCAPE.

SPEGIFICATIGN forming part of Letters Patent No. 669,656, dated March 12, 1901.

Application filed January 2, 1901. Serial No. 41,885. \No model.)

To rtZZ whom it may concern:

Be it known that I, GOTTFRID OSLUND, a citizen of Sweden, residing at Worcester, in the county of Worcester and State of Massachusetts, have invented new and useful Improvements in Fire-Escapes, of which the following is a specification.

This invention relates to improvements in fire-escapes; and it is carried out'as follows, reference being had to the accompanying drawings, wherein Figure 1 represents a side elevation of the invention, showing the end cover removed. Fig. 2 represents a central vertical section of Fig. 1. Fig. 3 represents a cross-section on the line 3 3 in Fig. 2, showing the chain in elevation. Fig. 4 represents a side elevation similar to Fig. 1, showing the weighted arms and toothed lever removed; and Fig.5 represents an end elevation of the improved fireescape, showing the pair of endless chains connected at intervals, for a purpose as will hereinafter be more fully shown and described.

Similar letters refer to similar parts wherever they occur on the different parts of the drawings.

The device consists of a pair of cylindrical metal shells A A, secured together preferably by means of rivets B O C, as shown. The outer open end of each shell A is closed by means of a removable cover D, preferably screwed onto the end of the shell, as shown in Fig. 2.

To the rivet B is pivotally connected a hook E, by means of which the device may be suspended above a window or other exit from the building on which it is to be used.

In a central bearing in each of the shells A is journaled a shaft F, to the middle portion of which is secured a duplex sprocket-wheel G, carrying a pair of parallel endless chains I-I H, as shown. Said chains are connected at intervals of about three feet, as shown at h h in Fig. 5, so as to serve as rests for the feet orother portions of the bodies of the persons descending by means of the improved fire-escape.

To each end of the shaft F is secured a lever 1, one end of which is interlocked with pins 1; 1', on which are journaled the segmenor levers L L, as shown in Fig. 1. The said segmental gears mesh in teeth upon the ends of a lever M, loosely journaled upon the hub of the lever I, as shown in Figs. 1 and 2. One of the toothed segments Z is provided with a radial extension Z, adapted to bear against the expansive free end laof the split ring K, as shown in Fig. 1.

In practice I prefer to interpose springs N N between the hub of the toothed lever M and the interior of the weighted arms or levers L L, as shown in Figs. 1 and 2, so as to normally hold said arms or levers partially expanded, as represented in Fig. 1.

The operation of the device is as follows: Normally the case AAis suspended by means of the hook E to any stationary object above and outside of the window or other wall-opening in the building on which the fire-escape is used. The endless chains H H are made long enough to reach to the ground, or nearly so, as may be desired. In descendinga person preferably steps upon the union h ofthe chains H H and holds onto the chains above such union, causing the sprocket-Wheel G to rotate and by so doing imparts a rotary motion to the weighted arms L L, which during such rotation are centrifugally caused to fly outward, causing the projection Z on one of said levers to press against the open end 70 of the friction ring K, which is thereby expanded and forced frictionally against the interior of the cylindrical casing A, thereby acting as a brake for preventing a too-rapid descent of the person supported on the descending portion of the chains.

In using this my improved fire-escape it is most practical for a person to step upon the union it between the descending portion of the chains; but I do not restrict myself to such use of the device, as a person may put his arms or portion of the body between the pair of chains and support his weight on one of the unions h, or in case a woman or child is to be lowered they may be placed in a sack or basket attached to the chain and lowered, asabove set forth.

If during the descent of a person the sprocket-wheel G should rotate too rapidly for a safe descent, the weights L L will be forced centrifugally outward, causing the brake-rings K K to be expanded and forced against the interior of the cylindrical casings A A, thus preventing a too-rapid descent, and it will be seen that by this brake arrangement the speed of the descending person is automatically adjusted in proportion to the weight of the person or object, thus preventing injury, as might be caused by a too-rapid fall or descent.

What I wish to secure by Letters Patent and claim is The herein-described fire-escape,consisting in combination a d uplex cylindrical casing A, A, a shaft F, journaled therein, levers I, I, attached to ends of said shaft, split brakerings K, K, connected to said levers, a pair of weighted levers L, L, pivoted to said levers I and geared to a lever M, loosely journaled relative to said shaft, one of said 1evers L, having a projection adapted to expand the said brake-ring, a duplex sprocketwheel G, secured to the shaft F, and a pair of endless chains H, H, carried by said sprocketwheels and connected at intervals substantially as and for the purpose set forth.

In testimony whereof I have hereunto set my hand in presence of two subscribing witnesses.

GO'ITFRID OSLUND.

Witnesses:

ALBAN ANDREN, ALFRED HENRIKSON. 

